An Earl's Wager: Regency Romance (Gentlemen and Brides)

by Joyce Alec

  She smiled thankfully at him.

  “So, Betty? Is it possible to find a time to set aside the cooking for a little while?”

  “I…suppose,” she said, looking around. “The bread is going to need to rise, and the roast still has several hours before it’s ready…”

  “Good,” he said. “I was wondering if you might be interested in taking a walk with me?”

  His mother gasped, and Betty froze, looking up at him.

  He waited patiently for her to answer.

  “I…yes. All right. Just…I will wash my hands quickly and will be ready to go.”

  She went out to the wash basin and returned with her hands clean, and then hung up her apron.

  A dusting of flour was still on her nose, which he scraped off with the tip of his finger.

  She blushed furiously at the contact, and he found that his own heart had started to beat a little more rapidly.

  Together, they walked out of the house and onto the street, the afternoon sunlight shining down on them, warming their backs.

  They walked in silence for a few minutes, but Timothy did not think it was unpleasant or uncomfortable.

  “Betty, I think that it is wise that I am honest with you,” he started eventually. “Something has happened since we met that I believe I should share with you.”

  “Oh…” she said. “All right.”

  He sighed. “My mother contacted you and let you know that her son was seeking a wife, correct?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Right. Well, if you haven’t already figured it out, my mother and I have a very…strained relationship.”

  “She’s made that quite clear as well,” Betty replied.

  He was pleased that she was starting to converse more. Perhaps it was easier when he took the pressure off of her and just allowed her to listen for now.

  “All right. I am sure that you also heard that she has told me that in order for me to keep my father’s farm, I am to marry within the next few weeks?”

  She looked up at me. “I…I didn’t know that, no.”

  “Ah,” he replied. “I wondered. Well. She invited you here because it was my father’s wish for me to be married before I took over the ranch. And I didn’t get married before he passed away. My mother has been insistent since then that I get married, and she has been badgering me about it ever since.”

  Betty listened patiently to him speak.

  “She became so worried that I was not married that she gave me an ultimatum. Either I get married inside the time frame she gave me, or she would make me give up the ranch.”

  “That seems…unkind,” she said.

  “It is,” he replied. “As I am her only child, she still benefits from the income that I earn through the ranch. However, she is so determined to fulfill my late father’s wishes that she threatened me, and then she got you involved.”

  Betty was silent, but he could see that she was not enjoying the direction of the conversation.

  “As such, and because of the relationship I have with my mother, I judged you unfairly when we first met,” he said. It was very hard for him to admit this to her, but he didn’t feel it was right to keep any of it from her. It was best that she knew the truth. “I saw a woman, any woman really, as a means to an end; simply a way to ensure that I maintained control of the ranch.”

  He swallowed hard.

  “I was determined to believe that my mother was incapable of finding a match for me. I was determined to find another match elsewhere.” He turned and looked at her. “And Betty, I hope you know that there was no ill will on my part toward you. It was my mother’s fault that you had been roped into this whole situation, unaware of what you were stepping into.”

  “I appreciate that,” Betty said.

  “As I said, it drove me to look elsewhere. I assumed that if I had to get married, if there was no way around it, then I would need to choose a woman that I thought was good for me…but how wrong I was.”

  He told her all about Anna, about finding her and writing to her. He also told Betty about inviting her to Texas and about the fact that he had every intention of marrying her. Betty listened, but he could see the sadness in her eyes whenever she looked up at him.

  As he finished the story, he finally told Betty that Anna was the worst possible fit for him. He knew that his intentions were wrong in the first place. He had only sought her out because he needed a wife, not because he wanted one.

  “What I am trying to say,” he continued on, “is that my mind has changed, and I have learned a lot since we first met.”

  They had found a bench along one of the less traveled roads. A lovely field was growing behind them, filled with wild flowers. The flowers’ lovely, warm scent surrounded them, and they danced in the gentle, afternoon breeze.

  He looked at her and smiled. “Of course, I want to keep the ranch. It is my pride and joy. However, this whole fiasco has made me realize I am becoming fonder of the idea of having a woman to come home to every evening.”

  She stared at the ground and hadn’t said anything in some time.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “Honestly?” she said. “I think that you are quite childish.”

  He was shocked. “Childish?”

  “You sought out Anna because you wanted to spite your mother,” she said. “That is unfair to Anna. Frankly, I am not surprised things ended the way they did…”

  “I…” Timothy started, but he hung his head. “You are right. Completely. It was childish.”

  “And I can understand wanting your privacy, but…did you truly think you were better off alone? Or was your defiance in not getting married for so long a way to upset your mother?”

  She was seeing right through to the heart of the issue, and he was stunned.

  “I don’t mean to be unkind,” she said. “I can see it all perfectly now. Your mother and father were harsh, and you sought a way to exert your own control.”

  “I am sorry,” Timothy said. “I also feel that I need to tell you that I have become very fond of our conversations. The letters that you sent have made me see a different side of you. You are a very sweet woman with a very kind spirit. I found myself smiling whenever I read them…”

  “You only responded once,” Betty replied. “I had hoped you would write more often.”

  “Again, I must apologize. Like you said, I was being childish. I had every intention of letting you know that I had chosen to marry Anna, but something held me back. I suppose it was because I had a genuine interest in you and didn’t want to disappoint you.” He looked at her very intently. “If I hadn’t been so proud, then I never would have put you in this situation. It wasn’t fair to you.”

  She sighed heavily. “I appreciate your apology, but you never promised yourself to me. I did not expect marriage.”

  “You are being too kind,” he said.

  “Well, I mean it. I should apologize that I was so withdrawn when we first met,” she said. “I know that I didn’t exactly make it easy for you to see who I was. I was anything but likeable…”

  “That’s not true,” he said. “I just assumed you were nervous. Living on a ranch can be a tough life, and I was worried that you would not be able to handle the hard work. I was concerned that I was frightening you, to be honest.”

  She hung her head shamefully. “No, I was never frightened of you. I was terrified that I was going to make a fool of myself…and that was exactly what I did.”

  They fell silent. Timothy looked out over the fields. He could see the town in the distance. Apparently, they had wandered farther away than he had intended.

  “So…what happens now?” he asked. “I can understand if you are so disappointed in me and my actions that you wish to return home.”

  “But then…wouldn’t you lose the ranch?”

  His heart fell.

  He thought, So she is considering leaving, then?

  “I would find a way to keep it,�
� he said. “I hope.”

  She looked away.

  “I think that there is something very valuable that has happened between us, something that people who are going to be married don’t have a chance to experience. We were put in a situation in which you had the chance to keep something from me, or to lie about it entirely…yet you told me the truth. You knew it would be painful, and you knew it would damage our relationship. And still, you told me the truth.”

  Timothy stared at her. She was taking this all very well.

  “Is this something that you want?” she asked. “Do you want a wife? Or do you want the means to keep your ranch?”

  He hesitated. He hadn’t even been so direct with himself. He wanted the ranch, of course. But a wife didn’t seem quite as frightening as it once had.

  And besides. She had been right. He had been putting it off for so long because it was what his mother wanted, and he fought against what she wanted for his life.

  “I think that we still have some distance to go,” he said. “I think that I especially have distance to go. But I think that you and I could be a good pair, Betty. I think we could understand each other in a very deep way, and that would be a good foundation for marriage…wouldn’t it?”

  She smiled, and he was surprised when his heart skipped a beat.

  She really was lovely when she smiled.

  “I do not think I could have said it any better,” she replied. “I have yet to meet a man who is willing to be as open as you have been. I think that is incredibly valuable for a marriage.”

  He smiled in return.

  “Does this mean that we are engaged?” Timothy asked.

  “Well, it might be appropriate if you were to ask me formally,” she replied.

  He got down off of the bench and knelt in front of her. He took her hand in his and was pleased in a secret way that her hands were warm and soft instead of clammy and cold.

  “Elizabeth,” he said, and he was even more pleased to see her smile when he used her full name. “Would you do me the honor and be my wife?”

  “I would be happy to,” she replied.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  Timothy walked into the kitchen after a grueling day in the sun. The scent of roasting chicken and rosemary wafted through the house, making him all the more grateful to be home.

  “Timothy, don’t you dare track mud all through my kitchen. I just swept the floor,” Betty called from the other room.

  Timothy laughed at his wife’s friendly chiding as he removed his boots and took off his hat, hanging it on a rack by the door.

  Betty came into the kitchen, with their one-month old daughter, Grace, in her arms. Timothy still had a hard time believing he was a father. He placed a gentle kiss on Grace’s forehead before kissing Betty firmly on the cheek.

  “I missed my two favorite girls today,” Timothy said.

  The past year had been blissfully happy for the newlyweds. What started out as a mutual attraction to each other quickly grew into love as they learned more about each other. They both had an affinity for horses, early morning sunrises, and taking long walks to unwind.

  When Betty became more comfortable, Timothy learned that not only was she a great cook, but she knew how to keep a house tidy, and her gardening skills ensured they always had the best tasting fresh vegetables to fill their plates and their bellies.

  With Betty taking care of the household duties, Timothy had more time to invest in the ranch. Within six months, the ranch was thriving, and they not only purchased more cattle to increase the size of their herd, but they also purchased an additional one hundred acres of land.

  Quiet evenings were spent on the porch, looking at the stars. Sometimes they would have meaningful conversations, but other times, they sat in a peaceful silence, just comfortable being in each other’s presence.

  Charlie immediately took a liking to Betty, and the two had become fast friends. Betty not only allowed Charlie to continue his comfortable life indoors, but she didn’t even mind when he slept at the end of their bed.

  Within months, Betty learned she was with child, and a month before their first wedding anniversary, Grace was born without any complications. The long, sleepless nights took some getting used to, but Timothy did everything he could to make sure Betty could devote her time to the baby, instead of worrying about household chores.

  Much to his surprise, Timothy’s mother had even come by daily to help Betty. Instead of being a nuisance, she helped cook and clean. Betty’s sweet demeanor had won Timothy’s mother over, and for the first time in his life, Timothy and his mother both put forth the effort to mend their strained relationship. It still wasn’t perfect, and she often got on his nerves, but the seed had been planted, and their relationship was stronger than it had ever been.

  “What can I do to help you with dinner?” Timothy asked.

  “There’s not much left to do,” Betty said with loving eyes and a smile. “If you could quickly set the table, that would be helpful. Then, all we need to do is set out the chicken and potatoes. If you will grab a fresh loaf of bread, we should be ready to eat.”

  Timothy looked down at his daughter and said, “You’re very lucky to have the mama you’ve been blessed with. She makes coming home such a joy.”

  Grace responded with a coo, and what looked like a smile.

  Betty noticed Grace’s expression as well. “Timothy! Did you see her smile at you? She’s definitely a daddy’s girl. She’s only one month old, and I’m sure she already has you wrapped around her little finger.”

  Timothy beamed. He never imagined that marriage would bring him such happiness, and he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with anybody but Betty.

  THE END

  Part V

  Finding Her Heart

  By Eleanor Swan

  1

  Ohio, 1876

  “Emma?”

  Silence.

  Couldn’t they see that she did not wish to be disturbed?

  “Emma, please come out here.”

  She appreciated her sister’s intentions, but it didn’t matter. Nothing anyone could say could cheer her up.

  “You’ve been in there for three days. You haven’t eaten a thing that we’ve brought to you. We are all very concerned.”

  Emma’s sister would understand if her life had just fallen apart as hers had.

  “That’s it,” her sister’s voice came through the door. “I’m coming in whether you allow it or not.”

  The door opened, and Emma’s sister Mary stepped in. She had the same brown hair as Emma, tied up on a neat knot, but had blue eyes while Emma’s eyes were green.

  She came to stand in front of Emma, who was seated on the end of her bed, staring at the blank wall.

  “This is ridiculous,” Mary said, her hands on her hips. “No man is worth this level of despair.”

  Emma looked up at Mary. “You don’t understand…”

  Mary’s face lit up with mock surprise. “Oh, so she can speak!”

  Emma glared, and her eyes filled with tears.

  Mary’s face softened, and she took a seat beside Emma on her bed. “Oh, come now, Emma. Surely it cannot be this devastating. You weren’t even in love with the man.”

  “No, but I was to marry him!” Emma said, reaching for her handkerchief on the quilt beside her. She dabbed at her sore, bloodshot eyes. “It wasn’t as if it was a secret. Everyone knew that we were meant to be married! For years now!”

  Mary nodded her head. “And he was a right fool, wasn’t he? He’s the one whose reputation is ruined beyond repair. What sort of a man sabotages his own life in that way?”

  “But he was in love with her…” Emma said, wiping her cheeks dry. She glared at the floor. “I can’t believe him. After all those honeyed words he said to me. After all of the gifts and the dancing…”

  She collapsed back onto the bed behind her. “He told me time and time again how much he loved me, how he couldn
’t wait for me to be his bride…what a horrible, horrible lie to tell.”

  Mary tapped her chin with a slim finger. “Well, aren’t you glad that you discovered the truth before the wedding?”

  Emma’s look could have melted iron.

  “It’s true!” Mary said, folding her arms over her chest. “Now you know that he was a deplorable man even before you were stuck with him for life.”

  Emma shook her head. “I just can’t believe that he was…” Emma said with contempt, “kissing her out in the open like that. Right where Andrew could find them.”

  “Aren’t you glad it was our brother and not you?” Mary asked.

  “If it had been me, he would have heard what I really meant to say to him instead of that ridiculous excuse for a letter that I sent.”

  “I thought it was rather eloquent,” Mary said. “Subtly threatening. Your skills as a teacher were very apparent.” She laughed. “That’s if he could even appreciate the cleverness. Most of it likely went over his head.”

  She looked down at her sister.

  “He knows that you are far better off without him, and without you, he has no prospects now. He knew that he was marrying better than he deserved when Mother and Father agreed to an arranged marriage.” She laughed again. “Such a fool. And so like a man to allow himself to be swept away by the wiles of a woman.”

  Emma’s eyes welled up once more.

  “Don’t get upset,” Mary said soothingly. “If he struggled knowing he was to be wed, then he would have struggled after marriage. The last thing that you need, dear Emma, is a man who is unfaithful.”

  “I suppose you’re right…” Emma sighed. She stared up at the ceiling. “But what am I to do now? My entire life had already been planned. I knew who I was to marry, where we were to live. Now I don’t know what will happen…” she tried to swallow past the lump that had formed in her throat. “It’s frightening.”

  “Think of all of the possibilities you have!” Mary said, shaking Emma’s arm. “It should be exciting, not scary! Marry whomever you like! Live wherever you want! There is no limit!”